Header.



W. V. PRITCHETT.

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APPLICATION FILED on. 30. ms.

PatentedApr. 17 1917.

W V- PKITC HETT w. v. PRITCHETT.

HEADER. APPLICATlON FILED OCT. 30; 1916- Patenfied Apr. 17, 1917'.

' FKITQHETT W. V. PRITCHETT.

HEADER. APPLICATION FILED OCT, 30. I916- Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

.3 SHEFTS-SHEET 3- WILLIAM v. rarrcnn'rr, or nLooM'mc enovn, 'rExAs.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A r; 17, acre.

Application filed October 30, .1916. Serial No. 128,535.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM V. PnrroH- nr'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Blooming Grove, in the county of Na- 5 varro and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Headers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. Y

This invention relates to certain improve-' provide a device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the position of the cutting mechanism may be vertically adjusted in order to conform to stalks of varying heights.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved header whereby certain important.

0 advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

5 The novel features. of the invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the ac- .0 companying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in top plan illustrating a header constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional =6 view taken longitudinally of the device as herein included;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the device as herein embodied;

.0 Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of. my

improved header as herein disclosed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line -55' of Fig. 3; .5 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary rear eleva-. tional' view showing the driving connection between the shafts 11 and as herein disclosed.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, P denotes a wheel-supported platform provided at its forward end portion with a collecting box or receptacle B.

The rear end portion of the platform P is provided with the upstanding transversely spaced posts 1 supporting the shaft 2.

The shaft 2 serves .as a fulcrum for the frame F whereby said frame F is capable of rocking movement-for a purpose which will hereinafter be more particularly set forth. The frame F extends beyond opposite sides of the platform P and rotatably supported byone side portion of the frame is the shaft 3' on which is loosely mounted the sprocket wheel 4 driven from one of I the supporting wheelsW, and coacting with said wheel 4 is a clutch member 5 keyed to said shaft 3 but capable of movement relative to the wheel 4, whereby said wheel may be caused to rotate in unison with the shaft with the hand lever 8 whereby said clutch 1 member 5 may be readily and conveniently thrown into or out of engagement with the gear 4 when required.

Fixed to the shaft 3 is a gear 9 in mesh with the gear 10 fixed to the shaft 11 disposed longitudinally of the frame F and extending beyond the opposite ends thereof. The shaft 11 is operatively engaged, as at 12, with the lower shaft 14 of the elevator E disposed upwardly'ion a predetermined incline and longitudinally of the platform P and adapted to discharge within the collect-- ing box or receptacle B hereinbefore referred to.

The elevator E comprises the side boards 15 and the intermediate table 16. Mounted upon the table 16 is a conveyer comprising the side endless chains 17 disposed around the sprockets 18 aflixed to the shaft 14, said chains 17 being tied or connected .by the transverse bars 19 whereby it will be per-' ceived that the severed heads are caused to travel upwardly and to discharge Within the box or receptacle B.

Extending laterally from the opposite side of the frame F are the arms 20, and the inner end portion ofthe forward arm 20 is provided with the upstanding post 21 provided with a bearing 22 for the reel shaft said reel shaft 23 will be caused to'properly' rotate.

The reel R coacts with the cutting mechanism C- of any ordinary or preferred con ,struction and whichincludes the reciprocating sickle bar 27 which is operated through the medium of the pitman 28 engaged with the crank disk 29 aifixed to a forward end portion of the shaft 11.

Intermediate the arms 20 and rearwardly of the reel R and bridging the space between said arms 20'is a table 30 which has its inner orrear end portion disposed upwardly on a predetermined incline and terminatin I adjacent the shaft 25.

Mounted upon the table 30 is a conveyer includin the side endless ehains 31 disposed around t e sprockets 32 affixed to the shaft 25 and around the sprockets 33 aflixed to the shaft34 rotatably supported by the outer ends of the arms 20. "The lower stretches of the chains 31 pass under the idle sprockets 35 ,loo'sely mounted upon the bar or shaft 36 positioned below the table 30 adjacent the bend thereof, while the upper stretches of said chains --31 pass beneath the guide sprockets 37 whereby said chains will be caused to properly coact with the table 30. The chains 31 are connected by the barsor slats 38 riding upon the upper surface of the table 30 and whereby the severed heads thrown upon the table by the reel R are caused to travel rearwardly of said table and be' properly delivered to the elevator E hereinbefore referred to.

The delivery of the severed heads to the elevator E is further facilitated by the chute 39 positioned rearwardly of the table 30 and inclined toward the lower end of the elevator E,

, The rocking movement of the frame F readily permits the cutting mechanism C to be adjusted in accordance with the height of the standing stalks, and in order to effect the requisite rocking movement of said frame, the same is provided with the forwardly extending arm 40 connected through the medium of the link 41 with the rock arm 42 carried by the shaft 43 disposed transversely of the platform P and having its end portion remote from the arm 42 provided with a econd-rock arm 44 with which is engaged the rod 45. The rod 45 extends forwardly of the platform P and is engaged with the hand lever 46 carried by the platform P and positioned adjacent the operators seat 47.' By this means it will be at once self-evident that without stopping the travel of the machine, the cutting mechanism may be conveniently adjusted in a vertical direction as the requirements of practice may dictate.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a header constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious .that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as hereinafter claimed.

Iclaim: i

1. A device of the character described comprising a portable body, an elongated frame having its longitudinal axis disposed transversely of the body, said frame extending beyond one side of the body, a shaft carried by and disposed transversely of the frame is pivotally connected, a cutting mechanism carried by the forward marginal portion of the part of the frame extending to one side of the body, means for imparting.

body and with which an end portion of the veyer being upwardly directed, a downwardly and forwardly inclined table carried by the frame and upon which the conveyer discharges, and a forwardly directed'elevating mechanism carried by the frame and upon which the table discharges.-

2. A device of the character described comprising a portable body, an elongated frame having its longitudinal axis disposed transversely of the body, said frame extending beyond one side of the body, the portion of the frame overlying the body being pivotally engaged with the body, a cutting mechanism carried by the forward marginal portion of the part ofthe frame extending to one side of the body, means forimparting rockin movement to the frame, a conveyer movab e longitudinally of the frame and upon which the cutting mechanism discharges, the inner end portion of said conveyer being upwardly directed, a downwardly and forwardly inclined table carried by the frame and upon which the conveyer discharges, and a forwardly directed and upon which the table discharges.

3. A device of the character described comprising a portable body, anelongated frame having its longitudinal axis disposed transversely of the body, said frame extending beyond one side of, the body, the portion of the frame overlying the body being pivotally engaged with the body, a cutting mechanism carried by the forward marginal portion of the part of the frame extending to one side of the body, means for imparting rocking movement to the frame, a conveyer movable longitudinally of the frame and. upon which thecutting mechanism discharges, the inner end portion of said conveyer being upwardly directed, a downwardly. and forwardly inclined table carried by the frame and uponwhich the conveyer discharges, a forwardly directed elevating mechanism carried by the frame and upon which the table discharges, and a collecting receptacle carried by the body in advance of the frame and into which the elevating mechanism discharges.

-In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

i WILLIAM v. 1 rrrnaurrr.

Witnesses:

W. J. SPURLOCK,

'SELMA RA'ms. 

